Perseus Jackson: Titan of The Hunt

CH19: First Day on the Job

(Percy)

The flight back to Orthrys from Olympus was uneventful save for the short-lived exhilaration of leaping from the roof of the Empire State Building. This left me with several hours to actually consider what I had just volunteered for. Looking back, I had happily accepted a job as the guardian of a bunch of ultra-feminists, who simply hated being in the presence of males.

Sure, I may have been friends with Thalia and had a seemingly respectful arrangement with Artemis herself but the rest of them however were unlikely to see me in the same positive light. The only 'good' news if it could be called as such, was that they were relatively few in number at the moment. I mean it was bad in the sense that was why they needed help in the first place, but still it meant I could keep an eye on most of them at the same time or at least I should be able to.

What I had expected for a task was perhaps helping my father, or maybe even training the minor gods in fighting. But then again, I was back to square one of only do training for a fight I hoped would never come. Besides I knew that they too would likely become boring after a while, just like Orthrys had done. Dealing with the same never changing individuals, day in and day out.

At least the Hunters were still generally mortal and as such were prone to shifts of opinion after a while rather than stubborn pride like true immortals were both gods and Titans. Or so much as I hoped that was the case maybe after a while, they would accept me.

There was however one deception I was hoping to maintain, they were not to find out about my true nature if I could help it. The gods had sworn not to reveal anything of it to the camps or the Hunt last year and hopefully they had indeed done so. As far as the Hunt needed to be aware, I was merely an immortal demigod like they were albeit with an impressive array of weapons and another pet monster. Sure, the wings would be difficult to hide under a trench coat forever but I could manipulate the mist, if necessary, enough to hopefully make even a Hunter question the sight if they were seen. Overwhelming power has some advantages after all.

Finally, I arrived at Orthrys and travelled to the palace gate, it was different to when I first arrived, where there were twelve names there originally now there were only ten. My own name was there in place of Krios at the bottom, which was good as it meant I could actually reach the thing to place my hand against it and watch it open automatically, the entrance recognizing my authority. Orthrys had the magical equivalent of a palm scanner, Olympus had an asshole in a suit, and I knew which I preferred as I entered.

My first port of call was of course the Council Chamber straight ahead, I was unsurprised to see all the remaining members gathered in their thrones listening to the minor Titans. Venturing through the assembled crowd, I made my way towards my throne. Stopping to stroke Nemea's head who was laying alongside it, before taking my seat without a word. I received a subtle nod from Iapetus in return but that was it, the others continued to listen to the loud figure of Atlas, as he explained how he may have got a mortal pregnant after he was released and went celebrating in the city below.

Truthfully, I was surprised it had taken this long for this situation to arise. The gods if the past had shown me would have needed this debate within a week of their release. I was also unsurprised though to hear it was Atlas that had been the first to bring the issue up. From what I had seen he had never had an issue with mortals. As I saw during the quest to free Artemis, as long as they were not inept, he was quite happy using them for his purposes.

Besides it was also true he had disappeared for a few days after his initial release, saying he wanted to get a proper back rub and upon his return he told me and his father that he had found this amazing place in the city where they did everything you wanted. In short, the Titan had got himself a 'happy ending'. Despite his offers to show me where the place was, I had told him I was alright. I was not using a brothel to get over Annabeth no matter how much he pestered me about it.